Edward’s sister, Emelia, came from Norway and married Christ Swenson from Norway. They lived in Canoe Twp. and also Decorah.

Edward and Mathilda (Johnson) Roed 1906

Edward married Mathilda Korsen Johnson 29 Jan 1906. Mathilda was born in Winneshiek Co. 27 Mar 1878 to Helmer Korsen Johnson (2 Sep 1853-26 Sep 1896) and Bertha Helene Amlien (30 Jun 1855-17 Aug 1916). Helmer and Bertha were born in Norway. Mathilda had 7 brothers and sisters: Martin (m. Ida Luvaas), John, Wilhelm and Henry (all single), Marie (m. Isaac Peterson), Julia (m. George Jaastad), and Mabel (single).

Mathilda was born on a farm and went to country school and Hauge Lutheran Church. She worked for the neighbors and once as a cook at Luther College. Mathilda and Edward lived on a farm in Canoe Twp. She cared for the chickens and turkeys and had a large garden, also strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, apples and cherries.

Mathilda and Edward had 7 children: Knute Hinbera (28 Dec 1906) married Evelyn Hellickson in 1937, Myrtle Manning in 1980 and Charlotte Ford in 1985; Harry Norman (24 Dec 1908-19 Jul 1978)married Dorothy Zielke; Edwin Maranuse (15 Sep 1911-25 Jul 1986) married Edna Sharp; Hilma Beatrice (1913-1915); Bjarne Siaured (11 May 1915) never married: Harriet Beraite (23 Aug 1917-21 Aug 1994) married Paul Ackerman; Olga Marian (19 Feb 1921) married Orlando Halverson.

Mathilda died 8 Oct 1943 and Edward died in 1950. They are buried in the Hauge Church Cemetery.

Rog, Sophie and Rotto, Ida

(Elizabeth Rog)

Sophie and Ida were born to Daniel Kristian Rotto and Elizabeth Janet Rog, Sophie and Ida. The girls were born in the log house built by their ancestors in 1853 in Calmar Twp. The house had been moved to Pleasant Twp. and renovated in 1987-1989 by their parents, maternal grandparents and friends.

Daniel is the co-owner and operator of Hometown Taxi. His interests include gardening, building projects and sports. Elizabeth “Liz” is a part-time manager of Oneota Community Co-op. She likes to plan concerts, games and celebrations, and enjoys singing and music more than anything.

Sophie and Ida spend many nights at dances where the Footnotes, a local Scandinavian dance band are playing. Members of the band include their Aunt and Uncle, Beth and Jon Roth, as well as Bill Musser and Jim Skurdall. Sophie began to play the fiddle at age five.

Their father Daniel was born in Lisbon, ND, the great-great-grandson of Johannes (1815-1901) and Catherine (Katrina) Helen Anderson Evenson who was born in Vestre Slidre 1831-32. The Evensons were the first couple to be married in Winneshiek Co. on 5 Oct 1851. (See their story on pp. 123-124 in Alexander’s History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties-!882) They were also first to donate toward the building of Luther College. Many Evenson descendants have graduated from Luther. Their daughter Lena Sophia Louise (Evenson) Gilbertson (b. 1869 in Winneshiek Co.) gave birth to Norma (Gilbertson) Rufsvold in 1895. Lena and her family moved to Camp Crook, SD in 1910. She was the mother of Daniel and grandmother of Sophie and Ida. Daniel and his brothers Peder and Jon all returned to Winneshiek Co. between 1970 and 1980.

Ida Rotto and Sophie Rog.

Ida and Sophie’s mother Elizabeth “Liz” (St. Paul, MN) is the great-great-great granddaughter of Eivind (1800) and Ragnhild Fristad (1806) in Valdres, Norway. They emigrated with the children in 1853 to Winneshiek Co. and built the log house in which Sophie and Ida later were born. Their daughter Ambjor Herreid (1846-1901) moved to Summit, SD with her family -1877 until 1889. Her daughter Martha Christopherson was born in Decorah in 1876 and spent her early years playing in